Women ambassadors create a community of entrepreneurs

The new Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors project brings together some of the most successful female entrepreneurs in Scotland. The project, which will recruit 30 Ambassadors over 2 years, will seek to inspire, motivate, engage and connect with women-led start-up and growth businesses. The objective is to increase the contribution of women’s enterprise to the Scottish economy.

This project is one of a number of actions contained in the Scottish Framework and Action Plan for Women’s Enterprise , which was launched on 4th March 2014 by Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney MSP and Minister for Youth Employment, Angela Constance MSP.

Fiona Fraser of Women’s Enterprise Scotland says,‘We know, from our research, that access to inspiring role models is fundamentally important for women who are considering starting a business, or those who are growing their business. However, role models must be accessible; the kinds of women that are just like you and I, that are juggling all the demands of a busy life, and yet still choosing enterprise as an exciting, viable and valuable career option.

By establishing a community of Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors, and sharing their remarkable stories with women across the country, we can create meaningful dialogue about the challenges faced, the opportunities that exist and most importantly, the successes to be had.

The entrepreneurial journey can be a lonely one at times, and our Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors will provide that support for each other, just as they will for the wider community of women engaging with them through events, media features, business networks and so on.

Developing this uplifting community of women, and the accompanying online resource, cuts across business sectors, backgrounds, and geographies. Over two years, we’ll introduce 30 Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors, which will truly demonstrate the breadth and strength of enterprising women in Scotland, and provide a compelling voice in discourse and debate.’

Finance Secretary John Swinney said:
“Scotland is a nation that is rich in talent with a great reputation in innovation and enterprise.

We are working hard in Government to support and empower the longstanding entrepreneurial spirit of the Scottish people. Today’s investments will help women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, benefit from the advice from other successful business women and ultimately grow our economy.

It is clear that if we are to strengthen the recovery, we must tackle the gender gap in business. Research by Professor Sara Carter from Strathclyde University shows that the Scottish GDP could be boosted by over five per cent if we tackle the gender gap adequately. This is an opportunity for us all to ensure that women across the country are equipped with the confidence and support to reap the benefits of their enterprise.”